Still, the volume offers the chance to delve into Jefferson’s life and be inspired by the range of his interests.
More than anything, Thomas Jefferson wished to be remembered for the Declaration of Independence, the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom and the founding of the University of Virginia—this book muddies those waters.
Miller offers a thorough and methodical overview of Jefferson’s life and political career, from his early years, college at William and Mary, and on to a life that parallels all of the major events of the emerging nation—the Continental Congress, the American Revolution, Republican and Federalist debates, two terms as president, the Lewis and Clark expedition and the various ways Jefferson remained committed to his nation even in retirement. The presentation is especially forthright about Jefferson’s ownership of slaves and his fathering of children with Sally Hemings. However, the flaw in this volume, and the For Kids series as a whole, is how the discussion of serious historical issues such as the Alien and Sedition Acts, judicial review and the creation of a national bank is undermined by silly “interactive” activities—making fresh grape juice, baking macaroni and cheese and gathering a leaf collection. One page has a solid discussion of Virginia planters who “enjoyed comfortable lives on the labor of slaves,” while the opposite page encourages readers to play a board game called “The Royal Game of the Goose.”
Still, the volume offers the chance to delve into Jefferson’s life and be inspired by the range of his interests. (acknowledgments, timeline, places to visit, websites, bibliography) (Biography. 9 & up)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-56976-348-3
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Review Posted Online: July 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2011
A breezy, bustling bucketful of courageous acts and eye-popping feats.
Why should grown-ups get all the historical, scientific, athletic, cinematic, and artistic glory?
Choosing exemplars from both past and present, Mitchell includes but goes well beyond Alexander the Great, Anne Frank, and like usual suspects to introduce a host of lesser-known luminaries. These include Shapur II, who was formally crowned king of Persia before he was born, Indian dancer/professional architect Sheila Sri Prakash, transgender spokesperson Jazz Jennings, inventor Param Jaggi, and an international host of other teen or preteen activists and prodigies. The individual portraits range from one paragraph to several pages in length, and they are interspersed with group tributes to, for instance, the Nazi-resisting “Swingkinder,” the striking New York City newsboys, and the marchers of the Birmingham Children’s Crusade. Mitchell even offers would-be villains a role model in Elagabalus, “boy emperor of Rome,” though she notes that he, at least, came to an awful end: “Then, then! They dumped his remains in the Tiber River, to be nommed by fish for all eternity.” The entries are arranged in no evident order, and though the backmatter includes multiple booklists, a personality quiz, a glossary, and even a quick Braille primer (with Braille jokes to decode), there is no index. Still, for readers whose fires need lighting, there’s motivational kindling on nearly every page.
A breezy, bustling bucketful of courageous acts and eye-popping feats. (finished illustrations not seen) (Collective biography. 10-13)Pub Date: May 10, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-14-751813-2
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Puffin
Review Posted Online: Nov. 10, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2015
A sincere, genuine, and uplifting book that affirms the importance of being true to yourself.
Middle school drama hits hard in this coming-of-age graphic memoir.
Natural competitor Misty has faced off against the boys for years, always coming out on top, but now they’re moving on without her into the land of full-contact football. Never one to back away from a challenge, Misty resolves to join the team and convinces her best friend, Bree, to join her. While Misty pours herself into practicing, obviously uninterested Bree—who was motivated more by getting to be around boys than doing sports—drifts toward popular queen bee Ava, creating an uneasy dynamic. Feeling estranged from Bree, Misty, who typically doesn’t think much about her appearance, tries to navigate seventh grade—even experimenting with a more traditionally feminine gender expression—while also mastering her newfound talent for tackling and facing hostility from some boys on the team. Readers with uncommon interests will relate to the theme of being the odd one out. Social exclusion and cutting remarks can be traumatic, so it’s therapeutic to see Misty begin to embrace her differences instead of trying to fit in with frenemies who don’t value her. The illustrations are alive with color and rich emotional details, pairing perfectly with the heartfelt storytelling. The husband-and-wife duo’s combined efforts will appeal to fans of Raina Telgemeier and Shannon Hale. Main characters present as White; some background characters read as Black.
A sincere, genuine, and uplifting book that affirms the importance of being true to yourself. (Graphic memoir. 9-13)Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-06-306469-0
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2022
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